CHERI Strudwick took up the role of marketing and development manager at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells just under two years ago.

While her direct line responsibilities are to look after the box office and to lead business development, her underlying task is to increase ticket sales.

This involves improving customer satisfaction and working with local businesses to come up with new ideas, such as pre-theatre supper offers, or sponsoring a show or show season.

Originally from Blindley Heath in Surrey, Miss Strudwick also finds herself working with agents and producers to draw up marketing plans and budgets for visiting shows.

Prior to her job at the theatre, she worked in marketing at Virgin Atlantic Airways for seven years and at British Airways for three.

It was this ten year grounding in travel marketing, working on such projects as the opening of Terminal 5 and the launch of BA's new club world, managing photo shoots – not to mention attending Sir Richard Branson's legendary parties – that gave her the confidence and experience to take on the job at the Assembly Hall Theatre.

She said: "My role is incredibly varied and that is what I love about it – the theatre has a certain buzz."